Seller's TIps

The most important decision you will make in the sale of your home is the REALTOR you choose. Some points to consider:

Find someone you feel comfortable with. If you don’t feel you can ask questions or go to your REALTOR, you have the wrong one.

Your REALTOR should show you research to back up any recommendations. This includes information about recent sales, current listings and recent expired listings in your neighbourhood.

Choose a local REALTOR. He or she will know your area better than an outsider, will be seen as a source for people looking to relocate in your neighbourhood, and will get better co-operation from other agents. It is likely that any amount you might save by having a friend or relative from outside the area serve as your REALTOR, will be lost in their lack of knowledge about the very specific local market. A professional should never be willing to work in a market they do not know.

Ask for references from the REALTOR. He or she should be willing to give you names of previous clients.

Ask your friends and acquaintances for recommendations, but make your final choice based on your needs.

Ask the REALTOR to show you what will be done to market your home. Consider the office and company support available to him or her as well as the initiative and professionalism shown by the individual.

Look for a REALTOR who tells you what he or she knows from experience in the market, and not what they think you want to hear. Flattery may sometimes get the listing, but it doesn’t sell the home!

Less inconvenienceIf you've moved before, you know the energy it takes to prepare for showings: keeping the home clean, making child care arrangements and altering your lifestyle. Proper pricing reduces these demands on you, by helping your home sell faster.

Exposure to more prospectsAt market value, you open your home up to more people who can afford the price. Sellers who list at a high price in the hope that they’ll find the one purchaser who will pay it, often do not realize that they have discouraged many potential purchasers who could have afforded the price they end up accepting at a later date.

Increased salesperson responseWhen salespeople are excited about a home and its price, they make special efforts to contact all of their potential buyers. Knowing that it is priced properly for its market, they expect it to sell soon and encourage their prospects to act quickly. Their excitement is contagious!

Better response from advertising and sign callsAd calls and sign calls to Realtors turn into showings when price is not a deterrent. Most serious prospects are well educated about asking prices in the areas they are seeking, and will not waste time on a home they consider overpriced.

Attracts higher offersWhen a home is priced right, buyers fear they might lose out on a good home , so they are less likely to make "low ball offers."

Means more money to sellersIf a home is priced right, the excitement of the market produces higher sale prices. You net more both in terms of actual sale price and in less carrying costs.

Make a Good First Impression

First impressions count with buyers. In today's age of consumerism, every buyer is comparative shopping. A small investment in time and money can give your home a solid advantage over competing properties. So by paying attention to detail now, you can enhance the perceived value later. The following are some suggestions for preparing your home to show to its best advantage.